The Los Angeles Lakers are back at the Staples Center to host the division rival Golden State Warriors.

In the rematch of the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers dispatched the Suns… again. The Lakers multiple championship ring possessing big three Kobe, Pau and Lamar lead the team to the first road win of the year. In the process, Phil Jackson became the fifth coach to win 1,100 games. He also accomplished that feat faster than the other four.

The surprising thing is that both teams come into this game undefeated; that will change tonight. As expected, the Lakers starters are consistently getting the job done, but the story has really been the reserves. Shannon Brown and Steve Blake are displaying an excellent combination of playmaking ability, timely outside shooting and solid all-around play. The reserves look solid, but the scary thing is to think that everyone can and will play better.

The Warriors will be without Stephen Curry tonight, one of the best young point guards in the league. A huge part of the scoring load will be on Monta Ellis who has already posted a 46 point night. The Warriors are another team that wants to get out in transition and run up and down the floor. Golden State can score and are once again one of the highest scoring teams in the league.

They have a long and athletic front line with new additions David Lee and Dorell Wright teaming with Andres Biedrins. Wright was a bit of a bust in Miami and is currently getting a chance to shine in the bay area. The trio is averaging 43.5 points, however I have a feeling that the above mentioned average will decrease tonight.

The Lakers defense needs to improve and do a better job of communicating. It is imperative that L.A. controls the tempo of the game, the paint, gets back in transition, limit the Warriors to one shot per possession and rotate out to three point shooters.

If this is really the last trip with the Zen Master, let’s make it on to remember.

ESPN: “I think it’s really important to him to let these guys know that more than likely, he will not be back. It’s weird how history repeats itself, but he left the Bulls as the league went into a labor dispute. Maybe that’s part of it. The urgency is this year. Don’t think we have time to win any more championships [together]. This is really the last one,” Buss said to ESPNLA.com’s Brian and Andy Kamenetzky on Thursday.

“I think it’s really, really important, because you can’t leave on a note where you feel like you left something on the table, where you feel like you did everything you could to be there in the Finals,” Buss continued. “That’s a hard note to leave on and to retire off of. I think he really wants them to take him seriously and leave the speculation of ‘maybe, maybe not,’ whatever. [But] this is probably going to be his last year,” Buss said.

Inside Local: “There’s a lot of talk about that team in South Beach. (The Lakers) are flying right there under the radar. … Those guys in the locker room over there, they love that challenge,” he said. “It gives them something to be focused in on for this year. Rather than just repeating, I think they feel like they’re underdogs. I don’t know why when you’ve been to the finals the last three years and won two (titles). I still think they’re the team to beat.”

In tonight’s box score, the Lakers and the Suns appear evenly matched, from shooting percentage to assists, etc. That, however, is where the similarities end. Where Phoenix’s offense is heavily reliant on point guard, Steve Nash, the Lakers offense is dependent on ball movement, which is not specific to one player or position. In a point-guard driven league, the Lakers showed again tonight why they are the defending champions.

The Lakers entered the U.S. Airways Centre in Phoenix on Friday, with a game against the rivaled Suns. A highly anticipated Western Conference Finals rematch. However, something was left out. The Zen Master was entering the game with 1,099 career head-coaching wins.

The Lakers and Suns battled back and forth in the first half, with neither team building a comfortable lead. However, the Lakers pulled away in the 2nd half to take the victory, giving Phil his 1,100th career win as a head coach, becoming the fast coach to do so. It wasn’t highlighted, or mentioned after the game but there’s no ignoring this milestone, Phil deserves all the respect we give him.

If you don’t know anything about Phil, let me “Phil” you in. Firstly, he likes to win championships in 3-peats and the quest right now is for Phil to earn his fourth 3-peat, a milestone no coach has ever reached. Nothing is impossible for Phil, as he handled egos in the locker room (i.e. Dennis Rodman) and disciplined those players, resulting in championships.

Phil also owns the Lakers record for most playoff wins, passing then record holder Pat Riley. He has 11 championships as a head coach (6 with Bulls, 5 with Lakers) and 2 as a player with the New York Knicks. He broke the tie with Celtics’ Red Auerbach 2 seasons ago, by winning a record 10th championship and further solidified his record by beating the Celtics themselves in Game 7, earning his 11th ring as a coach.

This is a great accomplishment for Phil. He has one more milestone, and that’s to get this 3-peat!

The Los Angeles Lakers are in the desert to face the Phoenix Suns in the first road game and second of the season.

The Lakers used a second half comeback to knock off the pesky Houston Rockets on ring night while the Suns were pounded on the boards, lost the rebounding battle and game to the Blazers at the Rose Garden in their season opener. However, the Suns bounced back with a 16-point win over the Jazz in Utah.

Tonight’s game is the home opener for the Suns. It doesn’t seem like that long ago, but five months and 12 days ago the Suns extended the Western Conference Finals to six games before the Lakers made them understand that 2010 wasn’t going to be their year.

The Suns and the Phoenix faithful will ‘get up’ for this game against the two-time defending champions; the Lakers always receive an opponent’s best effort. This game will be a hard fought and entertaining grudge match.

The Suns put up a good fight in the playoffs, but a turning point in the series had to be the theatrics of talented Suns guard / thespian Goran Dragic. Proving that Sasha Vujacic either has the strongest bicep in the Western Conference or that Dragic put on an act and the officials bought it.

The Suns are a different team without All-Star Amare Stoudamire attacking the basket upon receiving a perfectly placed pass. Amare took his talents to New York. Phoenix will replace his production by committee. They will use free agent addition Hedo Turkoglu at power forward. However his role will change, again.

The Champs take on the Suns in Phoenix tonight, and we’re giving you a chance to win another great prize! We have teamed up with our friends over at Coveroo to give away a Lakers’ iPhone cover tonight. In Tuesday’s opener, Steve Blake and Shannon Brown led a deciding, second half surge that resulted in an exciting 112-110 victory.

For your chance to win, predict the total number of combined points and assists Steve Blake and Shannon Brown will combine for in Phoenix tonight. The closest answer will win! Leave your prediction in the comments section below, and be sure your e-mail address is correct.

Don’t forget to tune in to the Lakers, Suns tonight, 7:30pm on ESPN, and be sure to hop over to Coveroo and check out how you can create your own phone cover design!

After years of hating, is Chuck jumping on the Kobe bandwagon? I don’t think so.

GQ.com: Kobe Bryant. Charles Barkley: His legacy is through the roof right now. Look, he ain’t Michael Jordan. In my opinion, the two best players ever are Michael and Oscar Robertson. But if he wins a couple more championships, he’s gonna be right after those guys.

The brilliant jewelry minds over at Jason of Beverly Hills went all out again for this years Championship Ring. In a sport where the emphasis on personal achievement lays prominently on the amount of bling you collect on your hand; NBA Championship Rings are the most celebrated in all of sports. So let’s take a look at how these bad boys were made.

This time it felt more real. The Lakers didn’t win a championship, a family won a championship.

The Lakers re-wrote the script, having each player introduce each other was a first of its kind. Lawerence Tanter (Lakers PA Announcer) announcing a name, and having them walk across the court is always good.

But having family introduce family is better.

“Bill may be his father, but he’s really my son.” Phil Jackson said, as he introduced Luke Walton. Making Luke haters across the globe yell at their TV screens, “That’s why he gets so much playing time!”

“We’ve known each other since we were 12 years old…and I just want to let him know that his family is proud of him.” Lamar Odom announced as he brought out Ron Artest.

After Coach Phil Jackson received his 11th Championship ring, he recognized former Lakers from last season who were not with the team tonight (Jordan Farmar, DJ Mbenga, Adam Morrison and Josh Powell), and then he spoke a few words on Luke Walton. From there, Walton introduced Lamar Odom, who introduced Ron Artest, who introduced Andrew Bynum…Pau Gasol…Sasha Vujacic…Shannon Brown…Derek Fisher…Kobe Bryant. One by one, each player introduced another, providing heartfelt words about their teammates; and with each introduction, each hug was held longer; the very last and most enduring embrace between captains, Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher. After, Bryant introduced Jerry Buss to receive his ring, calling him the “best owner in the history of team sports.”

As Artest counted down, the 16th Championship Banner was unveiled on the Staples Center wall. The now two-time defending champions looked on, and before they handed back their rings (because there was still a game to play, after all), Lamar Odom lingered then saluted towards that wall of banners. It was almost like a greeting and farewell, as if to say, Hello, we’ve been waiting for you and also We’ll meet again around this time next year. It was a unique and personable ceremony, filled with more heart and camaraderie than pride and individual accolades. The newest ring was the most difficult piece of hardware to attain to date, and tonight the Lakers began a new season, another opportunity to add to their jewelry collection.

It’s the season opener for the 2010-2011 Los Angeles Lakers; but before the journey to repeat commences the squad will receive their championship rings for last seasons exploits. This past off-season was the quietest off season ever for a two-time defending champion in any sport.

The Lakers have no problem with being under the radar with all the pressure being on a certain team that plays in the East. While the majority of the NBA was enamored with a super team being assembled with the three biggest names in free agency landing on the east coast.

The spotlight, scrutiny and high expectations will hover over the Heat all-season and like it or not the move ushered in a new era in the NBA. The super team that Miami is chasing is already assembled and in place on the west coast. However, the purple reign is far from over, but it has improved. The Purple and Gold didn’t rest on their laurels and stand pat. The two-time defending champion Lakers retooled and are now two deep at every position.

You can pick up one of the slick jackets at the NBA Store; although they’re likely to be outdated soon. You bought one of these last year and regret it, didn’t you? Tonight’s ring ceremony will begin around 7:10 PM. Don’t be late to the party.

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